Effect of vitamin D receptor Bsm Ⅰ gene polymorphism on blood lead and serum calcium levels

Objective To study the association between VDR gene polymorphism and blood lead(PbB)and serum calcium levels in the occupationally lead-exposed workers.Methods 112 blood samples of occupationally lead-exposed workers were selected from a puddling factory in the suburb of Chengdu.An assay based on the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment leng th polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)technique of restriction enzyme Bsm was used to detect at the same time.Results The genot ype distribution in these occupationally exposed wor kers was 99 VDR-bb homozy gotes(88.4%),10VDR Bb heterozygotes(8.9%),3VDR-BB homo zygotes(2.7%).The distribution of genotype was coincided with Hardy-Weinberg balance(P=1.0).The levels of PbB of VDR-Bb heterozyg otes and VDR-BB homozygotes were higher than VDR-bb homo zygotes,but the level of serum calcium of the for mer was lower than the later.The corr elation coefficient of PbB and secrum calcium of VDR Bb heterozygotes and VDR-BB(r=0.4510,P=0.122)homozygotes were higher than VDR-bb(r=0.286,P=0.004)homozy gotes.Conclusion The polymorphism of VDR gene is associated with blood lead and serum calcium.